National Republican., 1887-05-24

takes In i've or six partners, there is still
complete absence of all conflict between
labor and capital. But II he, being a single
proprietor, employs three or four Journey
men, aud out OF the product Of their labor
pays them wages, and, as reward for
their labor, retains to himself the premium,
which they In fact, also create and which
justly belongs TO him, the line OF difference
between the wages and the premium may
become disputed one, but II should
be clearly perceived that the dispute
Is not between capital and labor, but
between the partial and actual realization
of cooperation. The partnership relation
was an actual realization Of cooperation;
the employed relation is a partial realIza-
tion OF cooperative effect. AS intelligence
has increased and been more widely diff
fused among men greater discomfort has
been observable, and men say the conflict
between capital and labor is intensifying,
when the real truth is that by the increase
OF intelligence men are becoming more
nearly capable of co operation. In still
higher state Of intelligence this premium
will be eliminated altogether, because labor
can and viii become its own employer
through co operative association.
THE DIGNITY or LABOR.
"ln addition TO the many advantages
which co operation confers upon the mate.
rial prosperity Of the lahoring classes, there
are great and significant benefits to ensue to
the character OF men. The empoye is
regarded by the employer merely In the
light of his value as an operative. His
productive capacity alone Ia taken into
account. His character for honesty, truth.
fulness good moral habits are dsregarded
unless they interfere with the extent AMI
quality OF his services. But when men
are about to enter partnership in the way of
cooperation, the whole range OF character
comes under careful scrutiny. Each indi-
vtdual member Of cooperative society,
being the employer Of his own labor, works
with that interest which Is inseparable from
the new position he enjoys Each has an
interest In the other; each is interested IN
the others health, In his sobrety, In his in.
telligence, In his general competency, and
each is a guard upon the others conduct.
"There would be no idling in co.opera-
tive workshop. Each workman, being an
employer, has spur to his own industry,
and also has pecuniary reason for being
watchful of the industry Of bis fellow
werkmen. The character Of men invariably
rises with the assumption of higher re-
sponslbili,ies, and with the accession of
men to the higher plane Of becoming their
own employers, there is to be correspond
ing accession OF more ambitious and in
terested activity and higher character.
The bill have introduced in the Senate Of
the United States, II 1t should become a
law, IN addition to the opportunity 1t would
afford for the formation of co operative
societies, would do much to attract atten.
tion to the value OF the co operative princi
pie upon which our industrial systems
should be founded. 1t will be a govern.
mental attestation of the value Of the co
operative principle, which alone can elimi
nate what has been called the conflict be
tween capital and labor.
"There are still higher consideration.
connecting themselves with this great sub
iect," said the senator thou khtfully
Take, for instance, the influence of co
/ operation upon the rate OF wages to tn,
t employed class. In a cooperative associa
tion conducting a business, and dividing
the entire proceeds Of the business, tn,
dividends so created would exceed tn,
ordinary rate OF wages. The best mechanic
= and the best laborers would, therefore, seel
G to acquire position in co operative asso
! citation. The reward of labor beinl
S greater by co operation, the employer woult
e have to offer additional inducements Il
labor to remain In its employ, because th
4 superior attractiveness of the cooperative
7 plan would incite them to form societies o'
. this character, and employ their own labor
A 1t would, therefore, have direct tendency
( to raise the rate Of wages for all labor-or
/ in other words, to narrow the margii
g between the amount paid for labor and 1t
! gross product. Its effects expand IN variou
4 directions by contemplation. There would
! be a greater consumption Of labor, because
! of the greater prosperity OF men in co
= operative relation.
/, THE OBJECT AND REWARD OF LABOR.
e "All men labor to crafty their wants
e All civilization means simply multiplicit
: of want, and the wants Of men are limite
e only by their intellectual capacity to per
n ceive them. AS the mind grows and eS
b pands 1t perceives new and varied want:
J, You cannot have failed to notice that |
e the proportion as men are able !
e crafty the higher tastes thei
Il provement in their condition. They hay
# better carpets, musical Instruments, pie
e lures, and books; comforts and even ele
Is gances appear with the ability Of men
purchase them. All these things are tn
Y result of labor. II there are more me
e able to own and enjoy them, there is
/. greater demand for labor In their produt
" ton. So the demand for labor increase
o continually with the growth OF civilize
N conceptions.
!. Every Improvement In the method
n or elegance within the reach Of a larg,
l. number of people, and makes a great,
10 demand for labor In its production, and
lie this point the interdependence Of all me
At comes into view. A man may own pie,
lie of land, but he is dependent upon Il
s. labor Of others for the instr
~ ments with which to till 1t. I'll
le owner of piece of land who has nothiu
n but his hands with which to cultivate Il
Gnn 10 n TnaE En IN mi tu
ne Take the most primitive agricultural IL
~ plement, a spade. When his hands a
I'd supplemented and aided by spade,
OF may stir the ground and plant somethin
40 This he could not do were his hands II
G, supplemented with tools, and these too
he you will observe, are the product of b
ne labor OF others.
"a spade is very simple garden impl
a. a, ment, but its history would be the histo
es OF Civilizations history Of all the progre
~ that has been made in the mechanical art
w w T ON the mining Of the ore through
"; " smelling, its conversion into steel, It's ma
VI ufacture into the form Of an agrlcultul
eo implement, there are many processes, al
no these processes present the advant
D. ment of thought and skill in the mecha
he ical world. But the man / have su
" posed to own the land is poweress witho
re the assistance of others. He cannot ma
lu a movement In the way Of tllling his lal
We without setting some one else to work
IL manufacture implements with which tn
tillage shall be done. In every branch
Al human thought every other department
activity and industry is called into requi
tion. The musician who composes mu
til must express 1t upon musical instrume
90 "a piano or violin-and the instrument
lis the result OF mechanical skill. AS I'll
ng skill advances, new expressions becoI
I'm possible, and hence the science Of music
he constantly promoted by reason OF the 4
ed provement In the mechanical construct
by of musical instruments. The astrOnon
d, must use mathematical instruments. I
on observatory of the astronomer is call
nd all Ia, A.,